Checkmate with one rook

One rook checkmate

Just like in the case of checkmating with one queen, the rook needs the support of the king in order to checkmate the opponent. It uses the same principle : the rook reduces the enemy king free space while its king approaches it.

Look at the following example :

checkmate with one rook

1. Kc2-d3 The only active move. There was no point in moving the rook. 1... Kf4-g4 The black king can't go past the 6th rank because the rook controls it. All it can do is to attack the rook in the hope that the opponent will make a mistake and live the rook in its place 2. Rh5-a5 Kg4-f4 3. Ra5-d5 3... Kf4-f3 4. Rd5-f5+ White takes advantage of the fact that the two kings are in opposition and checks the king. Now the king loses another rank by
4... Kf3-g3. As a general rule,you should know that in this kind of endgame the side which is about to checkmate will always try to gain opposition; this way he will be able to force the opponent's king towards the edge of the board by checking it. 5. Kd3-e3 Kg3-g4 6. Rf5-d5 And now the black king is forced to enter opposition 6... Kg4-g3 and of course White takes advantage : 7. Rd5-g5+ Kg3-h3 8. Ke3-f3 Kh3-h2 9. Rg5-h5!? But what is this!? The black king is allowed to escape the h file! But wait there is more to this then meets the eye! 9... Kh2-g1
10. Rh5-h8 (This is a waiting move. This kind of moves are made with no specific purpose other then that to wait for the opponent to make his move). White did this move because Black is in a zugzwang position, and now he is forced to make a bad move. 10... Kg1-f1 And now he entered in opposition 11. Rh8-h1 Checkmate!